Turpan grape industry chain hits 6 bln yuan in annual output

In August, over 630,000 mu (about 42,000 hectares) of vineyards across Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, entered their peak harvest season. Thanks to industrial-chain upgrading and a diversified development strategy, the city's grape industry has yielded better quality and higher earnings, with value growth seen across the board. The sector's annual output has topped 6 billion yuan (about 827.59 million U.S. dollars), as this signature industry continues to gain fresh momentum to boost local incomes.

On August 25, 2026, grape growers were busy harvesting fresh grapes at a vineyard in Shengli Village, Shengjin Township, Gaochang District, Turpan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Nearby, over 60 drying sheds stood in neat rows, with workers moving back and forth, hauling in freshly harvested grapes to be dried into raisins.

Photo shows a drying-shed area in Shengjin Township, Gaochang District, Turpan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Zhang Mingxian)

Shengjin Township is one of Turpan's main grape-growing regions, with more than 51,000 mu (about 3,400 hectares) of vineyards, mostly planted with seedless white grapes. Over 5,000 drying sheds are scattered across the area, lining the vineyard edges and dotting the higher Gobi flats. A typical shed, about 110 square meters, can take up to 40 tons of fresh grapes when fully loaded. Township head Nijatjan Setar said the harvest rush runs from mid-August to mid-September. The local government is promoting better farming practices while expanding sales through both traditional markets and livestream e-commerce, aiming to give farmers a steady income boost.

Photo shows villagers pick grapes in Turpan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Japar)

Inside villager Aishan Aihemat's drying shed, wire mesh stretches beneath the roof, hooked to the walls on both sides. The hooks are spaced about 25 to 30 centimeters apart to ensure each layer of grapes gets even airflow. He and two other villagers were busy hanging clusters of seedless white grapes onto the mesh.

This year, Aishan's family grew grapes on 0.67 hectares. They started harvesting on August 22, and all the fresh fruit will be dried into raisins. "We're expecting about five to six tons of raisins, and the market looks good this year," he said with a smile. "In about a month, after air-drying, these fresh grapes will turn into sweet raisins."

Photo shows villagers dry grapes at drying shed in Turpan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Japar)

In recent years, Turpan has leveraged its strengths in grape production to steadily expand production bases, improve grape varieties, raise industry standards, extend its supply chain, open new markets, and integrate tourism with the industry. What was once a traditional local specialty has grown into a major driver of rural prosperity. The city has built a comprehensive industrial system spanning fresh grape sales, raisin processing, wine making, and the full utilization of by-products, maximizing economic returns from every part of the grape across the region.

Turpan produces about 1.7 million tons of grapes annually, accounting for one-tenth of the country's total output, with more than 550 varieties grown across the region. Under its targeted industrial layout, nearly 500,000 tons go to the fresh fruit market, while the rest is used for value-added processing such as wine making, grape juice production, and raisin processing. The city is home to 77 raisin processing enterprises with a combined annual capacity exceeding 200,000 tons, turning out more than 300 grape-based products. At the same time, Turpan has been tapping into the value of by-products — grape leaves are exported as a specialty ingredient to more than 20 countries, and vine clippings are processed into feed for livestock, maximizing resource efficiency across the board.

The grape by-product processing industry has been creating jobs and boosting incomes for local residents. Xinjiang Yemeijia Food Co., Ltd. purchased 3,500 tons of grape leaves this year, with projected revenues of 40 million yuan (about 5.50 million U.S. dollars). Its products are exported to 17 countries across the Middle East and Europe. Zakeyaguli Litifu, the company's head, said the business currently employs 116 workers, most of them from nearby villages. It has also benefited more than 10,000 farming households, adding an average of about 2,000 yuan (about 280 U.S. dollars) per mu to their incomes.

While improving quality and efficiency in the industry, Turpan has been deepening the integration of its grape sector with cultural tourism. Tapping into the popularity of the Grape Valley, a name that gained nationwide recognition through its appearance in a primary school Chinese textbook, the city has preserved traditional features such as grape growing and natural drying, while expanding into diverse offerings including picking tours, educational study trips, intangible cultural heritage demonstrations, and folk custom experiences to enrich the visitor experience. "I'd only known about the Grape Valley from the textbook before. Walking through the vineyards in person and seeing the unique character of this industry with my own eyes has been truly rewarding," said Teng Yichen, a visitor from northwest China’s Gansu Province.

Wang Zhiqiang, deputy director of the Turpan Forestry and Grassland Bureau, said the city will continue to expand the grape industry chain and cultivate new business models, using the signature industry to boost cultural tourism and drive rural revitalization, while further strengthening Turpan's city brand as a premier destination.

(The Media Convergence Center of Turpan City, Reporters: Japar and Zhang Mingxian)